Can body flanger



June 7, 1938. A. M. CAMERON 2,119,666

CAN BODY FLANGER Filed April 8, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 7, 1938. A. M. CAMERON 2,119,656

CAN BODY FLANGER I I Filed April 8, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 7, 1938. A. M. CAMERON CAN BODY FLANGER Filed April 8,--l936 '5 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 7, 1938. A C E 2,119,666

CAN BODY FLANGER Filed April 8, 1936 5' Sheets-Sheet 4 Glam/Mme; 021/,

Patented June 7, 1938 PATENT OFFICE CAN BODY FLANGER- Allan M. Cameron, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Cameron Can Machinery 00., Chicago, Ill.,a

corporation of Illinois Application April 8, 1936, Serial No. 73,190

4 Claims.

This invention relates in general to machines for forming flanges on the ends of cylindrical sheet metal bodies and, while the principles thereof may-be embodied in machines for flanging various sheet metal articles, the machine herein shown as illustrative of the principles of my invention is designed more particularly for flanging the ends of can bodies as a preliminary step to the attachment thereto of the can ends by a double seaming operation.

A primary purpose of my invention is to provide a machine entirely automatic in operation which will take the can bodies as they are fed in succession from a source of supply and will speedily and accurately form the desired flanges on both ends of the bodies. The design of the machine is such that the operation is continuous and the machine is capable of operation at extremely high speeds.

Another object of the invention is to perform the flanging operations at high speed and without deformation of, or injury to, the bodies being flanged. The formation of the flanges by forcing a flanging-die into the end of the body, as is done in this machine, subjects the body to an end thrust which has a tendency to collapse the body. To obviate the possibility of collapse, my invention provides for imposing an internal pressure on the body during the flanging operation which resists collapse or inward deformation of the body walls, thereby insuring the delivery of perfect and uninjured bodiesby the machine.

Another object of the invention is to accomplish the desired operations with a minimum number of moving parts, which parts are operated by cams which insure positiveness of movement with a minimum of resultant wear and the employment of minimum power.

Other objects and advantages of my invention should be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood from the following specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is aside elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View on the line 2-2 of Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary external view of that portion of the machine shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on different planes and looking toward the right against. the parts shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 'l'! of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view with certain parts broken away to showrthe three operatingcams by which the dies are operated;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of one of the flanging dies; and

Fig. 10 is a similar View showing the cooperative relation between the flanging die and the, holding die.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, it will be observed from Fig. 1 that the machine comprises a base l'l carrying ateach end an upright standard I 2 (only one of which is shown) each being provided at its upper end with a bearing l3 in which the ends of the main shaft M are journaled and supported.

As will be seen from Fig. 4, the outer ends of the shaft [4 are reduced to provide an outwardly facing shoulder l5 at each end and between this shoulder and the adjacent bearing l3 there is disposed a sleeve l6 which abuts at one end against the shoulder l5 and at its other end against the bearing, the sleeves being externally threaded as indicated at I! and provided at their outer ends with an enlarged head l8 having depressions 19 or the like'for the reception of a spanner wrench by which rotative movement may be imparted to the sleeves. The sleeves are manually rotatable in the manner described for the purpose of longitudinally adjusting the flanging heads, which will later be described, toward and from each other longitudinally of the shaft.

The fianging heads indicated generally by reference characters 2| and 22 each comprise 'a hub 23 which is splined or otherwise attached to the shaft so as to be rotatable therewith but capable of longitudinal movement axially thereof. These heads are oppositely disposed and the mechanisms carried thereby cooperate to simultaneously flange both ends of a can body. If it were desirable to flange but one end of a body, obviously the flanging mechanism of one of such heads might be dispensed with. The construction of both heads and the mechanisms carried thereby being identical, excepting for being oppositely located on the shaft, a detailed description of one of them will sufiice for an understanding of my invention.

From Fig. 6 it will be observed that it is of generally cylindrical shape and comprises an outer wall 24 supported by a plurality of, in the present instance, three radially extending webs or spokes 25 of substantial dimensions. At its inner end, as is best shown in Fig. 2, the head is provided with a circular end plate 26 recessed to accommodate the stationary sections 2'! of a plurality of sectional can body holding dies. These die sections are removably secured by bolts or screws 28 which together with positioning pins 29 retain these die sections in fixed position on the head.

A companion movable die section 3| mounted upon the inner end of a lever 32 is shaped complemental to the stationary die section 21 so that when the die sections are in closed or operative position they are adapted to snugly embrace the perimeter of a can body adjacent the end thereof and hold the same during the introduction of the flanging die into the end of the body. The die sections 3| are held in position by screws 30 and positioning pins 33 similarly to the fixed sections 21. While the dies herein shown are shaped for handling substantially rectangular can bodies, it should be understood that this shape is illustrative merely and that the principles of my invention contemplate the employment of dies adapted to handle round cans or any other preferred shape and of any size. It will be manifest that the dies may be readily removed and replaced with others differing in size or shape by simply removing the holding screws 28 and 30.

This machine is adapted to operate upon .can bodies which are fed to the machine down an inclined chute 34 and as the turret consisting of the two heads revolves in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 the fixed die sections 21 are brought successively into registration with the chute, permitting the lowermost can body to enter the turret and become seated by gravity in the fixed die sections as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The can bodies are designated generally by reference character 35.

In order to permit the entrance of the can bodies into the fixed holding die sections, the movable die sections are retracted as shown in Fig. 1, thus permitting a can body to drop from the chute into the turret between the opposed ends of the levers 32. Each of these levers, as will be apparent from Figs. 4, 5, and 6, is pivoted between its ends upon a rocker pin 36 projecting laterally from a lug 31 formed upon the outer face of a slide 38 adapted to reciprocate longitudinally in a guideway formed in the perimeter of the turret shell 22. To facilitate assembly, one wall of the guideway is formed by an undercut bar 39 which may be bolted or otherwise locked in position. A spring 4| interposed between each lever 32 and the slide by which it is carried tends to rock the lever in a clockwise direction to separate the movable section 3| of the holding die from its companion fixed section 2! as illustrated in Fig. 4. Movement of the lever in the opposite direction to close the die is effected by a surface cam 42 formed on a stationary cam block 43 and around the periphery of which the cam followers 44 mounted on the outer end of the levers 32 travel.

Reciprocatory movements of the slides 38 to carry the movable dies 3| inwardly into operative relation with a can body and outwardly into the inoperative position of Fig. 4 are produced by a cam groove 45 formed in the perimeter of the cam block 43 and in which the cam followers 46 mounted upon the outer ends of their respective slides 38 are adapted to travel.

The ends of the can bodies are simultaneously flanged outwardly by the introduct on t c ein o 'of tapered flanging dies 41, each detachably positioned and secured by positioning pins 48 and screws 49 to a die head fixed upon the inner end of the reciprocatory plunger 52. Each plunger is guided in its movements in a sleeve 53 mounted in one of the radial webs 25 of the turret. Each head 5| is shaped as shown in the upper portion of Fig. 6 and carries near its lower end a rod 54 which is guided in its reciprocatory movements by a guide sleeve 55 secured by bolts 56 or otherwise to the web 25. A spring 57 interposed between each guide sleeve 55 and an adjustable head 58 on the outer end of the rod normally urges the die and its carrying plunger 52 to the right, viewing Figs. 4 and 5, whereby a follower 59 mounted in the inner end of the plunger 52 is caused to engage an annular face cam 6| provided on the inner face of the cam block 43.

This block 43 is supported upon the outer portion of the revolving hub 23 and is held against endwise movement in one direction by a shoulder 60 formed on the perimeter of the hub and in the opposite direction by a ring 62 secured to the end of the hub by bolts 63. The block is held stationary against rotation with the hub by a pin 64 projecting from the frame standard I 2 through an opening in a plate 65 which is adjustably fixed to the end face of the cam block by bolts 66 passing through arcuate slots in the lug plate 65 so that adjustment of the cam block is permitted to enable accurate positioning of the block and the cams thereon to accurately time the operation of the mechanisms actuated by the respective cams.

From Fig. 8, the shape and arrangement of the various cams 42, 45, and 6| will become apparent. It will be understood that Fig. 8 is a view looking toward the left at the lefthand cam block of Fig. 1, a portion of the block being broken away to show the cam raceway 45. From'this figure in conjunction with Figs. 1, 4 and 5, it will be apparent that after a can body has become seated in a stationary die section 21, the roller 46 will ride up the incline 61 of the cam 45 to move its slide 38 inwardly so as to dispose the movable die section 3| over the end of the can body whereupon roller 44 will ride. up the rise 68 in cam 42 to rock the lever 32 counterclockwise from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5, thereby causing the companion die sections to cooperate in snugly embracing and holding the end of the can body. While the body is thus held, the forming die 41 is projected into the body to flange the same by the travel of the follower 59 up the rise 69 of the cam 6|. After the flanging operation has been performed, the die 41 is retracted by the spring 51 as the follower 59 rides off the rise of the cam 6|. The lever 32 will be rocked by the spring 4| to withdraw the die section 3| from operative position as the follower 44 rides off the rise 68 of the cam 42 and the slide 38 will be retracted to withdraw the die section 3| longitudinally of the can body as the follower 46 follows the contour of the cam 45.

The shape of the flanging die 41 is illustrated on an enlarged scale in Figs. 9 and from which it will be observed that the die comprises a tapered portion terminating in a shoulder 12 formed peripherally of the die by an annular flange-shaped projection 13. This shoulder limits the outward expansion of the end of the can body under the influence of the die; and in order that this die may cooperate closely with the holding die, both sections of the holding die are provided with a groove 74 into which the flange I3 projects at the conclusion of the flangingoperation. -When the flanged bodies are released by the holding dies, they are delivered from the machine by a chute comprising the top and bottom members 15 and 15 (Fig. 2), the inner ends of which are positioned to receive the bodies as they are released from the holding dies.

It will be apparent, therefore, that the bodies are flanged entirely automatically and in succession as'they are received from the supply chute and are then delivered into the discharge chute. When received in the turret, they are first firmly clamped at each end between the complemental sections of the holding dies, whereupon the flanging dies are forced into the ends of the bodies to expand them into the desired shape. The operations are thus performed with a minimum of moving parts and the employment of minimum power.

The forcible introduction of the flanging dies into the ends of the bodies subjects the bodies to a substantial longitudinally directed thrust which tends to cause inward collapse of the body walls, particularly when they are formed of light gauge tin plate. To obviate damage to the bodies by collapse or inward deformation of the walls, my invention contemplates counteracting this 001- lapsing tendency by producing within the bodies being flanged an internal pressure suflicient to resist and counteract this detrimental collapsing tendency. To accomplish this result, I have made provision for the introduction of air under the requisite pressure into the interior of the can bodies as they are being flanged. By reference particularly to Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, it will be observed that the flanging die 41 is provided with a passage H which, through a nipple l8 threaded thereinto, is connected with a hose 19 extending around and alongside the adjacent web 25 to the outer end of the turret head where through another elbow nipple 8! communication is established through a passage 82 in a valve ring member 83 which is splined to rotate with the hub 23 of the head. The three passages 82 are adapted upon rotation of the head to be brought successively into registry with a passage 84 extending through the stationary cam block 43 and connected with a hose or pipe 85 which is in communication with any suitable source of fluid pressure such as a compressed air tank for instance. The valve ring member 83 is urged against the machined face of the cam block 43 by a plurality of expansion springs 86 interposed between this ring and an abutment ring 81 shouldered at 88 against the hub 23 and connected with the valve ring member so as to rotate therewith, by a plurality of pins 89 as shown in Fig. 5.

The parts are so arranged and timed that as the flanging die is forced into the can body the passage 82 is brought into communication with the passage 8 t, thereby admitting air through the hose 19, the nipple l8 and the passage ll into the interior of the can body so as to produce a pressure therein sufficient to counteract the tendency of the can body walls to collapse under the end thrust exerted by the flanging dies during the flanging operation. The air supply is automatically cut off as soon as the passage 82 moves beyond registry with the passage 84, and leakage of this pressure from the can body is precluded by the close contact of the valve ring face against the opposed face of the cam block produced by the pressure of the springs 86. The internal pressure in the can bodies is, of course, relieved after the flanging operation by the withdrawal of the flanging dies from the body.

My invention, therefore, not only makes provision for the rapid and entirely automatic flanging of can bodies but also insures against injuries to thebodies resulting from deformation or collapse of the side walls under the action of the flanging dies. The details of construction which are shown and have been described as illustrative of the invention are obviously capable of wide modification and variation without departing from the essence of my invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a can body flangerthe combination of a rotatable shaft, a pair of heads splined thereon in spaced relation and provided with a plurality of separable can body holding dies comprising movable sections, a cam block positioned at the outer end of each head, means for holding said cam blocks against rotation, threaded sleeves surrounding said shaft whereby said heads and cam blocks may be adjusted longitudinally of said shaft, a reciprocable flanging die for each holding die, a lever carrying the movable section of each holding die, a cam on said block for reciprocating said levers in succession longitudinally ofthe shaft, a cam on said block for'moving said levers in succession on their fulcrums to bring the movable die sections carried thereby into cooperative relation with their respective stationary die sections, a cam on said block for moving said flanging dies in succession into cooperative relation with their respective holding dies, a passage through said cam block communicating at one end with a source of fluid under pressure and terminating at the other end in a port located in a face of the block forming a stationary valve seat, a rotatable valve member carried by said shaft and seated against said stationary seat, said member being provided with passages corresponding in number with the flanging dies and adapted to register successively with said port, each of said flanging dies being provided with a passage therethrough, and conduits connecting the valve member passages with the respective flanging die passages, whereby fluid under pressure is admitted to each can body to prevent deformation thereof during the flanging operation thereon.

2. In a can body fianger the combination of a rotatable shaft, 2. pair of heads splined thereon in spaced relation and provided with a plurality of separable can body holding dies comprising movable sections, a cam block positioned at the outer end of each head, means for holding said cam blocks against rotation, means whereby said heads and cam blocks may be adjusted longitudinally of said shaft, a reciprocable flanging die for each holding die, a lever carrying the movable section of each holding die, a cam on said block for reciprocating said levers in succession longitudinally of the shaft, a cam on said block for moving said levers in succession on their fulcrums to bring the movable die sections carried thereby into cooperative relation with their respective stationary die sections, a cam on said block for moving said flanging dies in succession into cooperative relation with their respective holding dies, a passage through said cam block communicating at one end with a source of fluid under pressure and terminating at the other end in a port located in a face of the block forming a stationary valve seat, a rotatable valve member carried by said shaft and seated against said stationary seat, said member being provided with passages corresponding in number with the fianging dies and adapted to register successively with said port, each of said flanging dies being provided with a passage therethrough, and conduits connecting the valve member passages with the respective fianging die passages, whereby fluid under pressure is admitted to each can body to prevent deformation thereof during the fianging operation thereon. V

3. In a can body flanger the combination of a rotatable shaft, a pair of heads splined thereon in spaced relation and provided with a plurality of separable can body holding dies comprising movable sections, a cam block positioned at the outer end of each head, means for holding said cam blocks against rotation, means whereby said heads and cam blocks may be adjusted longitudinally of said shaft, a reciprocable flanging die for each holding die, a lever carrying the movable section of each holding die, cams formed on said blocks for actuating said flanging dies in succession and for actuating the movable sections of said holding dies in succession, a passage through said cam block communicating at one end with a source of fluid under pressure and terminating at the other end in a port located in a face of the block forming a stationary valve seat, a rotatable valve member carried by said shaft and seated against said stationary seat, said member being provided with passages corresponding in number with the flanging dies and adapted to register successively with said port, each of said flanging dies being provided with a passage therethrough, and conduits connecting the valve member passages with the respective flanging die passages, whereby fluid under pressure is admitted to each can body to prevent deformation thereof during the fianging operation thereon.

4. In a can body flanger the combination of a rotatable shaft, a pair of heads splined thereon in spaced relation and provided with a plurality of separable can body holding dies comprising movable sections, a cam block positioned at the outer end of each head, means for holding said cam blocks against rotation, means whereby said heads and cam blocks may be adjusted longitudinally of said shaft, a reciprocable flanging die for each holding die, a lever carrying the movable section of each holding die, cams formed on said blocks for actuating said flanging dies in succession and for actuating the movable sections of said holding dies in succession,

a passage through said cam block communicating at one end with a source of fluid under pressure and terminating at the other end in a port located in a face of the block forming a stationary valve seat, a rotatable valve member engaging said seat and provided with a plurality of passages adapted to register successively with said port, each of said fianging dies being provided with a passage therethrough, and conduits connecting the valve member passages with the respective flanging die passages, whereby fluid under pressure is admitted to each can body to prevent deformation thereof during the flanging operation thereon.

ALLAN M. CAMERON. 

